Health Act 2006

Commencement Date

331.The commencement section (section 83) provides that the Act, with certain exceptions, will come into force on a day appointed by order by the Secretary of State. The exceptions to that provision are as follows.

332.The following provisions will come into force on the day on which the Act is passed:

• sections 74 and 75,

• sections 79, 80(3) to (8), 81, 82, 83, and 84

• paragraphs 36, 53 and 54 of Schedule 8 and section 80(1) so far as relating to those paragraphs.

• (except for section 36(2)) any other provision of the Act (including those to be commenced by the various appropriate national authorities as set out below) so far as it—

  • confers power to make an order or regulations, or

  • defines any expression relevant to the exercise of such power.

333.Part 5 comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State, after consultation with the National Assembly for Wales, may by order appoint..

334.The following provisions come into force on such day as the Scottish Ministers may by order appoint:

• section 36(2);

• so far as extending to Scotland, section 73 and paragraph 55 of Schedule 8, and

• section 80(1) so far as it relates to paragraph 55 of Schedule 8 (so far as it so extends).

335.The following provisions come into force in relation to Wales on such day as the National Assembly for Wales may by order appoint:

• Chapter 1 of Part 1 and sections 76 and 77, so far as relating to offences under that Chapter , and

• Paragraph 24(a) of Schedule 8 and section 80(1), so far as relating to that paragraph.

336.The following provisions come into force on such day as the National Assembly for Wales may by order appoint:

• Chapter 1 of Part 3 and sections 76 to 78 so far as relating to the Assembly’s functions under that Chapter or to offences committed in relation to those functions;

• Chapter 1 of Part 4 so far as relating to the Assembly’s functions under sections 42 and 42B of the National Health Act 1977;

• Chapter 3 of Part 4 and sections 76 to 78 so far as relating to the Assembly’s counter fraud functions in relation to the health service in Wales or to offences committed in relation to those functions;

• section 56, Schedule 3 and paragraph 44 of Schedule 8 so far as relating to Welsh NHS bodies;

• paragraphs 43 and 62 of Schedule 8;

• so far as relating to Welsh NHS bodies, any provision of Schedule 9 which repeals or revokes an enactment amending or repealing section 98 of the NHS Act 1977

• section 80(1) and (2) so far as relating to these provisions in Schedule 8 and 9.

337.The following provisions come into force on such day as the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety may by order appoint:

• Chapter 1 of Part 3 so far as relating to the functions of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety under that Chapter, and

• sections 76 and 77 so far as relating to offences committed in relation to those functions.

Hansard References

338.The following table sets out the dates and Hansard references for each stage of this Act's passage through Parliament.